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The Heart's Invisible Furies

A Novel

By:
John Boyne

Narrated by:
Stephen Hogan

Length: 21 hrs and 10 mins

Unabridged

Overall

4.5 out of 5 stars
2,256

Performance

5 out of 5 stars
2,110

Story

4.5 out of 5 stars
2,108

Cyril Avery is not a real Avery - or at least that's what his adoptive parents tell him. And he never will be. But if he isn't a real Avery, then who is he? Born out of wedlock to a teenage girl cast out from her rural Irish community and adopted by a well-to-do if eccentric Dublin couple via the intervention of a hunchbacked Redemptorist nun, Cyril is adrift in the world, anchored only tenuously by his heartfelt friendship with the infinitely more glamourous and dangerous Julian Woodbead.

Outstanding. A Must listen.

One Life, Countless Emotions

Overall

5 out of 5 stars

Performance

5 out of 5 stars

Story

5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 08-30-17

I knew I was going to love this book right from the first sentence. In just a few words, you knew that this story would be serious, yet funny; heartbreaking, yet heartwarming. It’s a saga that deals with religion, family, sexuality, love, and belonging. Narrator Stephen Hogan is the only person who could take our Dubliner protagonist from age 7 through 70. It's a heavy and thought provoking listen, and one that deserves rapt attention.

10 of 12 people found this review helpful

Final Girls

A Novel

By:
Riley Sager

Narrated by:
Erin Bennett,
Hillary Huber

Length: 12 hrs and 24 mins

Unabridged

Overall

4 out of 5 stars
3,277

Performance

4.5 out of 5 stars
3,037

Story

4 out of 5 stars
3,030

Ten years ago college student Quincy Carpenter went on vacation with five friends and came back alone, the only survivor of a horror movie-scale massacre. In an instant she became a member of a club no one wants to belong to - a group of similar survivors known in the press as the Final Girls.

Shocking twists and turns

An Ode to Slasher Films

Overall

5 out of 5 stars

Performance

5 out of 5 stars

Story

5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 07-13-17

The first few chapters of Final Girls reminded me a bit of Gillian Flynn's Dark Places as we're introduced to Quincy, who, 10 years earlier, was the sole survivor of a gruesome, horror movie-esq, killing spree in the woods. And other than a perhaps slight dependence on xanax and a small penchant for stealing, Quincy seems to have her life back, with a serious boyfriend and a small baking business to attest. But as Riley Sager's novel unfolds, I found myself constantly on the edge of my seat, knowing something even more terrible was just around the corner. This addicting listen was made all the more incredible with dual narration from Erin Bennett and Hillary Huber. And when you find out just why two narrators were cast, you'll be totally freaked out.

4 of 8 people found this review helpful

Spoonbenders

A Novel

By:
Daryl Gregory

Narrated by:
Ari Fliakos

Length: 14 hrs and 2 mins

Unabridged

Overall

4.5 out of 5 stars
3,459

Performance

4.5 out of 5 stars
3,270

Story

4.5 out of 5 stars
3,256

Teddy Telemachus is a charming con man with a gift for sleight of hand and some shady underground associates. In need of cash, he tricks his way into a classified government study about telekinesis and its possible role in intelligence gathering. There he meets Maureen McKinnon, and it's not just her piercing blue eyes that leave Teddy forever charmed but her mind - Maureen is a genuine psychic of immense and mysterious power.

Just the Right Amount of Everything!

Quirky, Original, and Fun

Overall

5 out of 5 stars

Performance

5 out of 5 stars

Story

5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 06-28-17

I admit it – in my mind, Ari Fliakos can do no wrong. After listening to him perform The Nix in 2016 I knew I was completely obsessed with his voice. Enter his latest endeavor, Spoonbenders by Daryl Gregory – a story about a family of psychics – and I knew I had to give it a listen. Spoonbenders follows The Incredible Telemachus family, a family of psychics (well, some of them at least) who in their heyday wowed audiences with feats of telekinesis, mindreading, and the ability to predict the future. But after one fateful and career-ruining television appearance, the future of this family became anything but predictable. Sprinkle in secret governmental agencies, a Chicago mob, a teenage boy discovering, um, himself, and you have a surprisingly relatable, genuine, and hilarious multi-generational saga.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

By:
Mark Twain

Narrated by:
Nick Offerman

Length: 7 hrs and 52 mins

Unabridged

Overall

4.5 out of 5 stars
3,973

Performance

5 out of 5 stars
3,687

Story

4.5 out of 5 stars
3,668

A natural storyteller and raconteur in his own right - just listen to
Paddle Your Own Canoe and
Gumption - actor, comedian, carpenter, and all-around manly man Nick Offerman (
Parks and Recreation) brings his distinctive baritone and a fine-tuned comic versatility to Twain's writing. In a knockout performance, he doesn't so much as read Twain's words as he does rejoice in them, delighting in the hijinks of Tom - whom he lovingly refers to as a "great scam artist" and "true American hero".

Fall in Love All Over Again

Offerman Is Just so Good!

Overall

5 out of 5 stars

Performance

5 out of 5 stars

Story

5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 05-12-17

I admit that calling The Adventures of Tom Sawyer a "latest discovery" feels a bit strange. I read (and loved the book) as a kid. But it wasn’t until a recent over-hyped blizzard when I convinced myself to listen to the version narrated by none other than Nick Offerman. I needed a familiar voice (I absolutely love Offerman) and a familiar story to keep me company in my tiny studio apartment as I worked. This entire production is incredible. I’m used to Offerman’s deadpan delivery, but his ability to bring distinct personality to each character just demonstrates his comedic acumen. I was cracking up on my commute the following morning, and was not-so-secretly pleased that my train stalled for 30-minutes due to "inclement weather

In this vivid and compelling novel, Tim Murphy follows a diverse set of characters whose fates intertwine in an iconic building in Manhattan's East Village, the Christodora. The Christodora is home to Milly and Jared, a privileged young couple with artistic ambitions. Their neighbor, Hector, a Puerto Rican gay man who was once a celebrated AIDS activist but is now a lonely addict, becomes connected to Milly and Jared's lives in ways none of them can anticipate.

Ambitious and Important

Ambitious and Important

Overall

5 out of 5 stars

Performance

5 out of 5 stars

Story

5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 11-21-16

Full disclosure, this novel is graphic, and probably won't be everyone's cup of tea. Vivid descriptions of addiction, sex, and illness tear through the chapters of this incredibly moving, but difficult listen. Tim Murphy's writing is so fluid and so descriptive, it evokes the genuine essence and spirit of New York City. As a current resident, I found myself torn between loving and hating this remarkable city I call home. Christodora is truly an immersive audio experience as seven powerhouse narrators team up to provide remarkable depth to a handful diverse characters – from an upper-middle class Jewish couple, to a meth-addicted Puerto Rican man who was once revered for his activism during the HIV/AIDs crisis of the 80s and 90s – as their lives interweave at different points over the course of 40 years.

18 of 23 people found this review helpful

The Nix

A Novel

By:
Nathan Hill

Narrated by:
Ari Fliakos

Length: 21 hrs and 42 mins

Unabridged

Overall

4.5 out of 5 stars
9,047

Performance

4.5 out of 5 stars
8,467

Story

4.5 out of 5 stars
8,442

It's 2011, and Samuel Andresen-Anderson - college professor, stalled writer - has a Nix of his own: his mother, Faye. He hasn't seen her in decades, not since she abandoned the family when he was a boy. Now she's reappeared, having committed an absurd crime that electrifies the nightly news, beguiles the Internet, and inflames a politically divided country. The media paints Faye as a radical hippie with a sordid past, but as far as Samuel knows, his mother was an ordinary girl who married her high school sweetheart.

5 out of 5 stars

Nathan Hill is an exceptional storyteller.

My favorite of the year

Overall

5 out of 5 stars

Performance

5 out of 5 stars

Story

5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 11-04-16

I am guilty of "book tunnel vision". Since finishing The Nix, I've listened to other books, but I still can't stop talking about Nathan Hill's debut. It was my pick for the best book of August (and the entire fall, and maybe the entire year), and I wholeheartedly stand by my choice. As I've been saying to everyone, there are so many different elements and layers to this incredible story that no summary or review really does it justice.

At its heart, The Nix is about a young but discouraged college professor reuniting with his estranged mother in order to clear her name of a misunderstood crime. But there's so much more to this "un-pausable" story which spans from 1960s Chicago, to present day New York, to—surprisingly—Norway. I've both read and listened to this book, and I can't recommend Ari Fliakos' spot-on performance enough. And by spot-on, I mean he sounds exactly as I imagined each character in the book should sound. The entire production is perfection.

31 of 38 people found this review helpful

The Gene

An Intimate History

By:
Siddhartha Mukherjee

Narrated by:
Dennis Boutsikaris

Length: 19 hrs and 22 mins

Unabridged

Overall

4.5 out of 5 stars
3,806

Performance

4.5 out of 5 stars
3,396

Story

4.5 out of 5 stars
3,359

The extraordinary Siddhartha Mukherjee has written a biography of the gene as deft, brilliant, and illuminating as his extraordinarily successful biography of cancer. Weaving science, social history, and personal narrative to tell us the story of one of the most important conceptual breakthroughs of modern times, Mukherjee animates the quest to understand human heredity and its surprising influence on our lives, personalities, identities, fates, and choices.

Scientific history blended with humanity

Nerd Crush

Overall

5 out of 5 stars

Performance

5 out of 5 stars

Story

5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 08-24-16

Like countless others, I loved Siddhartha Mukherjee’s The Emperor of All Maladies. So when I heard he had written a new "biography" of a non-human subject, I was VERY excited. And I was correct to be excited, as it kept me completely enthralled. Deftly blending science, history, social issues, and personal anecdotes, Mukherjee deep-dives into heredity. From theories posited in Ancient Greece to modern scientific advances, Mukherjee outlines how microscopic changes in our genetic code have a substantial impact on our personalities, behaviors, and lives. Whether you struggled through Intro to Biology in college (like me) or hold a doctorate in the subject, The Gene is an accessible, comprehensive, and fascinating narrative of the building blocks of life.

9 of 10 people found this review helpful

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

By:
Lewis Carroll

Narrated by:
Scarlett Johansson

Length: 2 hrs and 44 mins

Unabridged

Overall

4.5 out of 5 stars
2,240

Performance

4.5 out of 5 stars
2,047

Story

4.5 out of 5 stars
2,048

Golden Globe nominee Scarlett Johansson (
Lost in Translation,
Girl with a Pearl Earring) brings a palpable sense of joy and exuberance to her performance of Lewis Carroll's enduring classic
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The young and imaginative Alice grows weary of her storybook, one "without pictures or conversations", and follows a hasty hare underground - to come face to face with a host of strange and fantastic characters.

Oh My Ears and Whiskers, What A Delight!

Incredible

Overall

5 out of 5 stars

Performance

5 out of 5 stars

Story

5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 02-25-16

Any additional comments?

I've loved Alice's Adventures in Wonderland for as long as I can remember. As a child I adored the magic, the adventure, and the kooky characters. As an adult, I grew to love Carroll's imagery, symbolism (perhaps unintentional), and his ability to turn what seems like nonsense into an enduring children's tale. No matter how many times I've read this story and watched the movies, I feel like I can always return to the familiar and colorful place that is Wonderland. Scarlett Johansson brings such incredible depth and wonderment to this timeless tale, that this just may be my new favorite interpretation. Her sister, veteran narrator Vanessa Johansson directed this performance. I guess talent runs in the family

24 of 28 people found this review helpful

Barbarian Days

A Surfing Life

By:
William Finnegan

Narrated by:
William Finnegan

Length: 18 hrs and 8 mins

Unabridged

Overall

4.5 out of 5 stars
2,689

Performance

4.5 out of 5 stars
2,469

Story

4.5 out of 5 stars
2,457

Pulitzer Prize, Biography, 2016.Barbarian Days is William Finnegan's memoir of an obsession, a complex enchantment. Surfing only looks like a sport. To initiates it is something else entirely: a beautiful addiction, a demanding course of study, a morally dangerous pastime, a way of life.

An Amazing Performance by the Author

An Amazing Performance by the Author

Overall

5 out of 5 stars

Performance

5 out of 5 stars

Story

5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 02-01-16

Any additional comments?

An important caveat about this book - it’s not just for those who surf. As someone who has never attempted this sport in her life, I thoroughly enjoyed William Finnegan’s lengthy memoir. A detailed, and nicely-paced story, Barbarian Days begins in 1960s’ Hawaii, and from there takes us on an adventure around the word. Finnegan’s memoir is more than just an ode to a past time – it’s a story of balancing an obsession with the inevitable responsibilities of adulthood. He reflects on his past with humor, panache, and of course, a reverence for the sport which profoundly shaped his life.

48 of 49 people found this review helpful

The Weight of Feathers

By:
Anna-Marie McLemore

Narrated by:
Kirby Heyborne,
Cynthia Farrell

Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins

Unabridged

Overall

4 out of 5 stars
126

Performance

4 out of 5 stars
114

Story

4 out of 5 stars
118

For 20 years, the Palomas and the Corbeaus have been rivals and enemies, locked in an escalating feud for over a generation. Both families make their living as traveling performers in competing shows - the Palomas swimming in mermaid exhibitions, the Corbeaus, former tightrope walkers, performing in the tallest trees they can find. Lace Paloma may be new to her family's show, but she knows as well as anyone that the Corbeaus are pure
magia negra - black magic from the devil himself.

A gem of a book

A Fantastic Debut

Overall

5 out of 5 stars

Performance

5 out of 5 stars

Story

5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 12-04-15

Any additional comments?

In The Weight of Feathers we are introduced to two feuding families – the Palomas and the Corbeaus. Both make their livings as traveling performers, yet a deep-rooted animosity between the two has divided them for over 20 years. When disaster strikes, and the Paloma daughter, Lace, and one of the Corbeau sons, Cluck, are found inexplicably drawn to each other, the tension brewing between the families is dangerously brought back to the forefront. Written in beautiful prose, and comprised of wonderfully developed characters, The Weight of Feathers is a perfect blend of Romeo and Juliet and The Night Circus. Anna-Marie McLemore is a fresh, new voice to the YA genre, and I can’t wait to see what else will come from her.